Better late than never...

I'm just going to begin as if it hasn't been almost two years since I last updated this blog.  One of the many intentions I had for this past summer was to make at least one new (to me) recipe each week, and post the recipe and picture.  I began well enough by making the new recipes.  I even remembered to take photos of some of them.  The blogging part, however, did not go so well.  So, while I may post the "new" recipes that I made at a later time, I will start today with the recipe I made for dinner this evening.

Why haven't I ever had winter squash?  Perhaps because it all looks a little scary.  Orange, and yellow, and green colors, bumpy and odd shaped...let's face it, they're used for decor around Halloween for a reason.  But I have turned a corner!  I receive a daily recipe email from AllRecipes.com, and a few days ago the recipe was for Butternut Squash Soup.  My friend, Rachel, had just cooked a delicious Pumpkin soup for a dinner party, and I was intrigued.  Here is the recipe with my adjustments in parentheses:

Ingredients

6 Tbs chopped onion
4 Tbs margarine (salted butter)
6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (2 - 2.5 lb butternut squash, halved)
3 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 tsp dried marjoram (1/2 tsp thyme)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp paprika)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese (1 (8 ounce) package)

Directions

1.  In a large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender.  Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper.  Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
(I first roasted the butternut squash by placing the halves face down on a cookie sheet, and baking at 375 for 40 minutes.  Meanwhile, I sauteed the onions in butter until tender, then added the water, bouillon, thyme, black pepper and paprika.  I brought it to a boil, and cooked until the bouillon was completely dissolved.)
2.  Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth.  Return to saucepan, and heat through.  Do not allow to boil.
(After roasting the squash, I removed it from its peel by scooping with a spoon.  Pureed the squash and cream cheese in my Pampered Chef manual food processor. Finally I added the squash puree to the pan and cooked, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes.)

I served the soup with bread and a ham sandwich.  Dave and Jack both loved it, and I found the taste to be just what I was hoping for.  I pureed the squash and cream cheese in 4 batches, next time I will try to get it done in 2.  I had to stir the final mixture quite a bit to get rid of the lumps.  It was relatively easy, although I always tend to make a bigger mess the first time I make a recipe.  This is one I'll definitely make again, and I'm excited about the whole new world of winter squash that has opened up to me!

Going Rogue: The Squeakquel

I too am leaving my spiffy new job...for a different spiffy new job. The outlook for teachers is bleak, my friends. With the state of the economy, and cuts and downsizing galore, I'll be lucky if there are any teaching positions posted for next school year. The district I'm currently in is very small and there are many teachers who will be laid be off next year, as well as many positions that will be eliminated all together. My new position will be in a much larger district, which expands my job prospects considerably. Now, having my foot in the door doesn't guarantee that I'll be chosen for any open teaching positions, but it certainly doesn't hurt my chances. Anyway, it was a tough decision, but I think I made the right one.

In other news, Jack's busy being cute all the time. Except when he's being naughty...he has this way of smiling at you when he's going to do something he's not supposed to - you think he's just the cutest thing in the world, until you realize you're being conned by a 1 year old. He also has so much going on inside his little head, but he doesn't have the words to express it yet. So he screams or cries when can't get his point across. He still is just the cutest thing in the world though!

A bang-up job

I'm the computer lady.

Yes, I know that I'm the first person you think of when your computer has a melt down and you're wondering where to turn for help. Not. In spite of this, I applied for, and got a computer para-pro position at the 3-5 building in the district I was subbing for. I assist the teachers in teaching technology standards and will eventually work with them on planning and teaching lessons that integrate technology (SMART board, laptops, etc.). So far I'm enjoying it and the teachers and staff all seem very nice. The best part is that I basically have the freedom to take this job where ever I want. A lot of the teachers are afraid of technology and it's my job to help them use it in their daily teaching. So far I've been spending a lot of my "tech integration" time playing with the SMART board, researching educational websites, and figuring out all the programs and software we use. Week 1, a success...despite being rear-ended on my way to the brand new job on Monday.

I brought my...pencil!

I'm a teacher again. For a while anyway. It was sort of like I never left, aside from the months of indecision, and searching, and interviewing, and agonizing. My new first graders are not really mine at all. They belong to Mrs. C and she will be taking them from me in November. I'm enjoying it now, being a part of a school, starting the new year, and teaching each day, but trying not to think of what will happen when it's over. First of all, I'm already getting attached to these kiddos, something I naively thought I could avoid. Secondly, come November, I'll be right there looking again. Although, there's not as much uncertainty as there was even a week ago. I know now that I won't have my own classroom this year. Also, I have some prospects after this job. Worst case, I'll be able to pick and choose certain schools to sub in and try them out. It's been a good, yet exhausting week. I'm still working full time at the crew, which means I didn't get to see Mr. Bananas at all Tuesday or Wednesday. We played today though, and he took 3 steps!! He's going to be walking any day.

This is for you Katohater, some more nuggets to philosophize over:
What is love?
Where is the soul?
What is the meaning of life?

Jenna...we love you no matter what. You had your reasons, and ultimately it's none of our business. I'm sorry you were unhappy for so long. And, just so you know, you can "for a saw bananas everyday."

Must be the full moon...

What is with all the crazies? We won't even talk about Tuesday night at the crew...it was that bad with crazy customers. But today? Okay, so you're cool. You're mediocre looking and you have some cronies you call buddies that follow you around. You're sarcastic and love to show your buddies how clever you are. You come into my store. Do I bother you at your place of work? Do I make snide comments and treat you like you're less than dirt, and then ask if you're hiring? Do you really want a job? Maybe if I acted like you, and gave side fives that turned into awkward hand-holding at my interviews I'd get hired.

Okay, so you're shopping with your daughter. You don't want help...you don't NEED help from the "girls" in the store. You come out to find a new size or item for your daughter and look lost. I ask you if I can help you find something. You don't stop, or look at me, or act as though I'm a human being who is paid money to help people like you find what they are looking for. You want to do it yourself. That's fine, but don't treat me like I'm following you around the store putting on the high pressure sales. I apologize if this upsets you, but when you come into my store, we will try to help you.

Okay, so you're a security guard. I don't know if you get paid enough, but from my understanding, your job is to keep the mall and its occupants safe. I get it, you're working the late shift, you probably don't have to do much. I ask you to assist me in securing my store. You don't really respond in a way that makes me feel secure...in fact you hardly respond at all. What? You can't look at me? You can't respond to or even acknowledge a simple "thank you"?

All I have to say to you all is:
That don't impress me much.

Some pics of Jack

Camping with Fred Bear.

Driving Daddy's Truck.

Eatin' Cheerios.

Bein' cute.

Showing us Hopson, his little bunny.

At the water table.

Frustrated Incorporated

Wow, the time gets away from me being back home. Not as much time to sit on my computer and blog...or much of anything else. This summer has flown by and now I feel like a bundle of mush, held together by fraying nerves. While it's great to be back, I underestimated how much I'd miss Arizona. I DO NOT miss the heat, but I do miss most other things. Most notably, my job. I felt so good about my career and the work I was doing every day. I was a part of a community, a family that watched out for me and cared about me and welcomed me from day one. Now I have nothing but doors slammed in my face. I have interviewed at five different schools, made it to the second round for 3, and nada. Meanwhile I'm desperately sending out cover letters and resumes all over Kent and Ottawa county, attending sub meetings, preparing for a long term sub job, and working at the crew (where, by the way, I feel most wanted and appreciated these days). Oh yeah, and then trying to carve out some time with my wonderful family. I can't believe Jack will be 11 months on Sunday...he's almost a year old! Where has the time gone? On top of all this, without a teaching job we will need to continue with our living situation as it is now. We are eternally grateful to be able to live here, but it's wearing on us all...and it's all my fault. Basically, as soon as I get a teaching job, we can begin to think about our future again. At least in Phoenix we were making progress on paying down our debt and in our careers. Why can't our choices in life be made simpler? Why does everything have to be a trade off? Yes, I'm with my family and friends, and Jack is with his grandparents...so why do I feel more unhappy now, than I have in a long time?